I am rolling into 2023 sharing my healthy happiness diet.

The most popular New Year's resolution by far is weight loss. People kick-start every year on a new “detox” or fad diet with the hope of losing weight. And the media does us no favors, highlighting “the best diet to burn fat and carbs,” “how to lose 20 lbs in 20 days without exercise,” or, my favorite, the before and after photos of a dramatic body change in just 30 days. The list goes on and on, year after year, and generates billions of dollars for the weight loss industry.

I will never say that it’s all false advertising. When you start drinking manufactured shakes and microwaving your prepackaged low-calorie meals, you can and will lose weight. But at what cost? It’s not just the cost of investing in a program. There’s the price of your body adjusting to the energy depletion of an extreme calorie deficit, the cost of consuming “foods” that have anything but healthy ingredients. The expense of your mind being confused and frustrated when the quick fix ends and you're back to square one.

How do you define healthy? What does happiness mean to you?

Feelings of happiness are associated with making choices and building habits around eating healthy foods, becoming more active, and sleeping better.

This is why 2023 is the year of healthy happiness. When you fuel your body and mind with better-for-you natural ingredients, express daily gratitude, move your body, connect with other like-minded people and become more mindful – your body will begin to establish a solid foundation that can be built upon throughout your life.

I don’t want anyone to keep waking up on January 1st with the same resolution they had last year. So, let’s try to be more realistic about becoming healthy and happy by:

● Creating a strong foundation with new ways to move your body.

● Building up your awareness of better ingredients.

● Gathering insight into some healthier habits you can try out.

● Looking at cooking as self-care.

Remember that a quick fix is never as long-lasting as a solid foundation that keeps you steady for the long term.

This family treat has better for you ingredients. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip No Bake Blondie